Research Question: What are the educational and economic ramifications of consolidating/centralizing schools?
Contributed by: Cynthia Kirchner
Magazine Article:
Elementary Schools Of The Year: RUNNER-UP CAL Elementary School/Latimer, Iowa: Pooling Their Knowledge
Summary:
1993- Dows district and CAL district combine (CAL had already been consolidated) Dows received the middle school and CAL received the High school, and each retained their respective elementary schools.
Changes made:
CAL- introduced a Spanish -language curriculum to match that of Dows'
Dows- introduced a program for gifted students, as CAL had
The high school kids became role models for the elementary school at CAL as the are right down the hall and they have a large interaction between schools including voluntary tutoring from the high school kids. This has given the smaller kids something to model their behavior after as well as given them someone to look up to.
Reaction:
This seems to have been a great plan, with the high school graduates going to college at a rate of 98% it shows the elementary school children how they should behave, and considering how high the rate of college bound kids are it also would make sense that the younger students help to keep their elders under control, possibly by giving them a reason to act more appropriately around the kids.
Consolidation is on the rise. While the populations in cities and towns increase the number of schools and districts decrease.
negative effects of consolidation:
long bus rides
younger students going to school with elder students (with an adverse effect)
removal of school can be detrimental to community (taxes and morale)
loss of community jobs
more rural and poor communities with less than 500 residents were adversely affected economically when compared to those of a higher residency or communities that had schools.
Reaction:
This article is clearly against the consolidation of school for the fact of traveling distance, and the effect the removal of a school would have on a community. These are valid points, the long bus rides would be a hassle but the bus rides would create jobs for those who are unemployed, however it is doubtful that a teacher would then, after being let go, want to drive a school bus around. The affect the older school children have on the younger ones is subject to perception I guess, as I have heard this many times described as being both a positive and a negative aspect of consolidation.
Lyson, T. (2005). The Importance of Schools in Rural Communities. Educational Leadership, 3(2). Retrieved November 25, 2010, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/researchbrief/v3n02/toc.aspx
Editorial (Editor's Comments)
Cliff Hanging
Summary:
argument for consolidation:
Reduction in numbers of superintendents and school boards, in addition to the elimination of duplicate services are some of the benefits of the consolidations of schools.
increase district capacity
preserve classroom jobs
argument against consolidation:
loss of executive jobs
state legislature intervention necessary
money would have to be spent lobbying for the cause
Reaction:
The argument for consolidation seems more substantial that the latter. The use of funds for lobbying would only last until the program was put into place. The state legislatures' intervention would most likely cause the need for more jobs in this department giving jobs to those would loose their executive jobs and the other jobs would not be immediately be cut giving the workers time to adjust and find other jobs.In addition the cost to the districts would provide far more benefits for the districts than the amount of jobs lost would. The consolidation of schools would open up more room for students in communities increasing the amount of citizens in the community.
J., R. (2010). Cliff Hanging. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(9), 4. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.
Eric Database
School Consolidation
Summary:
Consolidation is becoming more and more prevalent in society as the financial strain is being stressed.
benefits:
offer expanded curriculum
reduced costs
shared courses/curriculum and facilities
varied curriculum and courses offered (higher enrollment in each course as well as in the school)
less facilities to operate and maintain
fewer teachers and administrators to pay per district
gives the school more identity in the community
gives more funding (combined from the districts and schools) to the extracurricular activities and sports
negatives:
liabilities
lger student to teacher ratio
more general instruction, less focus on the individual student
more "red tape"
less interpersonal involvement (i.e. teachers to students and parents)
fewer situational changes
Reaction:
The benefits sound great and sounds, but so do the negatives. They sound horrid and like a great detriment to the community. I think the idea that this article is trying to get across is that there are two sides to this argument and that they both have legitimate claims. The claims that the schools/districts would be better of financially because they would have less administration to pay as well as the services people, all of this is in addition to the fact that they would only have to keep maintenance on the schools that were being used so they would also save more money there. The fewer changes is also a valid point however, because if they wanted to change a specific math course's text book they might have to change out 200 instead of a district's 100. The curriculum would widely benefit from consolidation however, as the curricula could be compared and combined with the best programs and features of each into one. The classes that were cut due to lack of enrollment could now be reopened because there is a whole new cash of students willing to take the different courses offered. The student/faculty ratios would rise however because while the amount of teachers in the one district would inevitably rise the entire population of teachers in another might be wiped out entirely creating a much higher student population in the schools and less of a chance for the students to individualize their educational experience.
Nelson, E., & ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, E. (1985). School Consolidation. ERIC Digest, Number Thirteen. Retrieved from ERIC database.
The (Limited) Evidence Regarding Effects of Grade-Span Configurations on Academic Achievement: What Rural Educators Should Know
Summary: grade-span consolidation (multiple grade levels in one building/school) cost verses education, the smaller the cost the more consolidation of schools and the more ages in a school setting. does this interrupt the development of the students? having multiple stages of development all in one area? New York- 18+ schools K-8 schools had better test scores, attendance and more positive outlooks on school than those in 6-8. In addition both 6th grades were tested and there was not a preexisting deficit in the education of the 6-8 school. Louisiana -700+ schools 6/7 grades achieved more in K-6/7 and K-12 schools than the 6/7-9 schools on state testing 10th grade had higher achievement and fewer behavioral problems in K-12 schools than 7/8/9-12 schools analysis took into consideration school size, community socioeconomic status Texas- 1001 schools 10th grade TAAS slight but significant advantage for K-12 schools compared to all other configurations of schools including the 10th grade. takes into account demographics, school size, expenditures + more variables Maine-163 schools 8th grade based on achievement tests controlling for school-level socioeconomic status, per-capita income in the community,and parent educational attainment the further the span for the grades the better the scores. Pennsylvania- 330 schools 6th grade- achievement based on socioeconomic factors, but overall there was an advantage to elementary 6th graders than the middle school, especially for those of a lower socioeconomic standard.
Possible reasons for results- not as much transition from one school to another, already existing standards and same group of class mates from elementary to upper grades. seems to be consistent results that the combination of grades is a good idea for the middle grades. research is limited in this area.
Reaction:
There is a benefit to grade-span consolidations as shown in the research, that the students perform at a better level when they are in a school with students who are older and younger than they are (all that can be i.e. 12th graders only have younger students with them and k/pre-k classes only have older). Whether the benefit is from being a role model or having a role model or just the simple fact of not having to transfer schools and knowing all the teachers and your classmates or even being in the same environment year after year, there is a statistical difference between schools with a greater grade-span and those with a lesser, with the benefit going towards greater grade-span schools.
Coladarci, T., Hancock, J., & ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools, C. (2002). The (Limited) Evidence Regarding Effects of Grade-Span Configurations on Academic Achievement: What Rural Educators Should Know. ERIC Digest. Retrieved from ERIC database.
Research Question: What are the educational and economic ramifications of consolidating/centralizing schools?
Contributed by: Cynthia Kirchner
Magazine Article:
Elementary Schools Of The Year: RUNNER-UP CAL Elementary School/Latimer, Iowa: Pooling Their Knowledge
Summary:
1993- Dows district and CAL district combine (CAL had already been consolidated) Dows received the middle school and CAL received the High school, and each retained their respective elementary schools.Changes made:
CAL- introduced a Spanish -language curriculum to match that of Dows'
Dows- introduced a program for gifted students, as CAL had
The high school kids became role models for the elementary school at CAL as the are right down the hall and they have a large interaction between schools including voluntary tutoring from the high school kids. This has given the smaller kids something to model their behavior after as well as given them someone to look up to.
Reaction:
This seems to have been a great plan, with the high school graduates going to college at a rate of 98% it shows the elementary school children how they should behave, and considering how high the rate of college bound kids are it also would make sense that the younger students help to keep their elders under control, possibly by giving them a reason to act more appropriately around the kids.
Cole, W. (2001, May 21). Elementary Schools Of The Year: RUNNER-UP CAL Elementary School/Latimer, Iowa: Pooling Their Knowledge. Time, 0040-718X. Retrieved November 25, 2010, from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999916,00.html
Journal Article:
The Importance of Schools in Rural Communities
Summary:
Consolidation is on the rise. While the populations in cities and towns increase the number of schools and districts decrease.negative effects of consolidation:
- long bus rides
- younger students going to school with elder students (with an adverse effect)
- removal of school can be detrimental to community (taxes and morale)
- loss of community jobs
more rural and poor communities with less than 500 residents were adversely affected economically when compared to those of a higher residency or communities that had schools.Reaction:
This article is clearly against the consolidation of school for the fact of traveling distance, and the effect the removal of a school would have on a community. These are valid points, the long bus rides would be a hassle but the bus rides would create jobs for those who are unemployed, however it is doubtful that a teacher would then, after being let go, want to drive a school bus around. The affect the older school children have on the younger ones is subject to perception I guess, as I have heard this many times described as being both a positive and a negative aspect of consolidation.
Lyson, T. (2005). The Importance of Schools in Rural Communities. Educational Leadership, 3(2). Retrieved November 25, 2010, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/researchbrief/v3n02/toc.aspx
Editorial (Editor's Comments)
Cliff Hanging
Summary:
argument for consolidation:- Reduction in numbers of superintendents and school boards, in addition to the elimination of duplicate services are some of the benefits of the consolidations of schools.
- increase district capacity
- preserve classroom jobs
argument against consolidation:Reaction:
The argument for consolidation seems more substantial that the latter. The use of funds for lobbying would only last until the program was put into place. The state legislatures' intervention would most likely cause the need for more jobs in this department giving jobs to those would loose their executive jobs and the other jobs would not be immediately be cut giving the workers time to adjust and find other jobs.In addition the cost to the districts would provide far more benefits for the districts than the amount of jobs lost would. The consolidation of schools would open up more room for students in communities increasing the amount of citizens in the community.
J., R. (2010). Cliff Hanging. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(9), 4. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.
Eric Database
School Consolidation
Summary:
Consolidation is becoming more and more prevalent in society as the financial strain is being stressed.benefits:
- offer expanded curriculum
- reduced costs
- shared courses/curriculum and facilities
- varied curriculum and courses offered (higher enrollment in each course as well as in the school)
- less facilities to operate and maintain
- fewer teachers and administrators to pay per district
- gives the school more identity in the community
- gives more funding (combined from the districts and schools) to the extracurricular activities and sports
negatives:- liabilities
- lger student to teacher ratio
- more general instruction, less focus on the individual student
- more "red tape"
- less interpersonal involvement (i.e. teachers to students and parents)
- fewer situational changes
Reaction:The benefits sound great and sounds, but so do the negatives. They sound horrid and like a great detriment to the community. I think the idea that this article is trying to get across is that there are two sides to this argument and that they both have legitimate claims. The claims that the schools/districts would be better of financially because they would have less administration to pay as well as the services people, all of this is in addition to the fact that they would only have to keep maintenance on the schools that were being used so they would also save more money there. The fewer changes is also a valid point however, because if they wanted to change a specific math course's text book they might have to change out 200 instead of a district's 100. The curriculum would widely benefit from consolidation however, as the curricula could be compared and combined with the best programs and features of each into one. The classes that were cut due to lack of enrollment could now be reopened because there is a whole new cash of students willing to take the different courses offered. The student/faculty ratios would rise however because while the amount of teachers in the one district would inevitably rise the entire population of teachers in another might be wiped out entirely creating a much higher student population in the schools and less of a chance for the students to individualize their educational experience.
Nelson, E., & ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management, E. (1985). School Consolidation. ERIC Digest, Number Thirteen. Retrieved from ERIC database.
The (Limited) Evidence Regarding Effects of Grade-Span Configurations on Academic Achievement: What Rural Educators Should Know
Summary:grade-span consolidation (multiple grade levels in one building/school)
cost verses education, the smaller the cost the more consolidation of schools and the more ages in a school setting.
does this interrupt the development of the students? having multiple stages of development all in one area?
New York- 18+ schools
K-8 schools had better test scores, attendance and more positive outlooks on school than those in 6-8. In addition both 6th grades were tested and there was not a preexisting deficit in the education of the 6-8 school.
Louisiana -700+ schools
6/7 grades achieved more in K-6/7 and K-12 schools than the 6/7-9 schools on state testing
10th grade had higher achievement and fewer behavioral problems in K-12 schools than 7/8/9-12 schools
analysis took into consideration school size, community socioeconomic status
Texas- 1001 schools
10th grade TAAS slight but significant advantage for K-12 schools compared to all other configurations of schools including the 10th grade. takes into account demographics, school size, expenditures + more variables
Maine-163 schools
8th grade based on achievement tests controlling for school-level socioeconomic status, per-capita income in the community,and parent educational attainment
the further the span for the grades the better the scores.
Pennsylvania- 330 schools
6th grade- achievement based on socioeconomic factors, but overall there was an advantage to elementary 6th graders than the middle school, especially for those of a lower socioeconomic standard.
Possible reasons for results-
not as much transition from one school to another, already existing standards and same group of class mates from elementary to upper grades.
seems to be consistent results that the combination of grades is a good idea for the middle grades. research is limited in this area.
Reaction:
There is a benefit to grade-span consolidations as shown in the research, that the students perform at a better level when they are in a school with students who are older and younger than they are (all that can be i.e. 12th graders only have younger students with them and k/pre-k classes only have older). Whether the benefit is from being a role model or having a role model or just the simple fact of not having to transfer schools and knowing all the teachers and your classmates or even being in the same environment year after year, there is a statistical difference between schools with a greater grade-span and those with a lesser, with the benefit going towards greater grade-span schools.
Coladarci, T., Hancock, J., & ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools, C. (2002). The (Limited) Evidence Regarding Effects of Grade-Span Configurations on Academic Achievement: What Rural Educators Should Know. ERIC Digest. Retrieved from ERIC database.